Lindsay Park has been a regular visitor to the Queensland Winter Carnival over their history but will break new ground this weekend.
For the first time Lindsay Park will have a runner in north Queensland when Crosshaven (Smart Missile) starts in the inaugural staging of The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton on Saturday.
The Archer is a slot race modelled on The Everest and carries A$440,000 in prize money with A$275,000 to the winner.
The Ben and Jd Hayes-trained galloper, who was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling draft, could then remain in Queensland for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month.
Hayes said Lindsay Park had fielded inquiries from a number of slot holders about heading north.
“It’s the first time the stable will have a runner up there,” Ben Hayes said.
“It wasn’t something that was originally on our radar until we got some interest.”
Hayes said Crosshaven had travelled to Queensland in good order, and they were expecting the gelding to run well at his first attempt at racing right-handed.
Crosshaven is coming off a last start fourth to Cherry Tortoni (Night of Thunder) in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo last month.
While it will be five weeks between runs, Hayes said Crosshaven had trialled nicely between outings.
“He trialled up super and goes up there in peak order,” Hayes said.
“If he wins then we’ll set him for the Stradbroke, but there are a number of other suitable races up there for him as well.”
Crosshaven has been a model of consistency over his 18-start career that has netted five wins but has not been successful since winning the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in October 2020.
